That stressful, indulgent, expensive and momentarily magical time of the year is upon us, and if you’re thinking about buying a new game console for the holidays, GameSpot has you covered. Across the site we have published comprehensive analyses of all the next-gen TV consoles, from Wii U to PlayStation 4 to Xbox One, scrutinising each flaw and highlighting the major advantages. Those who are about to make a careful purchase decision should take a look through our broad-ranging editorials on each system, while those who want a more concise overview are free to watch our videos, which bring together views from an international spread of GameSpot experts. Wii U Verdict: Nintendo is fighting back, possessed by that longstanding and essential rule of business: keep your customers happy. And it does this so capably, creating some of the finest Nintendo games in years. In fact, not just the best versions of its garlanded franchises, not just an answer to critics, but outright some of the best games you’ll play in years. Just enough, in fact, to make the console an essential purchase. Read the full review HERE Xbox One Verdict: While most of the Xbox One’s inconveniences are forgivable on…

Microsoft has sold about 40,000 Xbox One’s in Japan since its September launch Takashi Sensui, the general manager of Xbox in Japan, has reportedly “resigned” from his role as the Xbox One continues to struggle in the region. However, Sensui will remain at the company, moving to Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters to take on the role of General Manager for the Interactive Entertainment Business. He will report to Xbox VP Mike Nichols and provide a link between Xbox’s US and Japan teams. Considering his transfer, it is unclear whether Sensui resigned or, perhaps, has been promoted. According to a Kotaku translation of the Japanese games publication Famitsu, Sensui is reportedly “stepping down”. GameSpot has contacted Microsoft for clarification. Xbox Japan is undergoing a management shake-up, with its execs Yoshinami Takahashi and Nobuyoshi Yokoi now in charge of the business. The changes come amid grim sales results for Xbox One in the region, with the console often selling less than 1,000 units on a weekly basis. Since its Japan launch in September, the Xbox One has sold to about 40,000 customers. By comparison, in 2005 Microsoft shipped an estimated initial batch of 159,000 Xbox 360s across Japan, of which about 62,000 were…

The first episode of Telltale’s Game of Thrones series will launch next week across multiple consoles and platforms, the studio has announced. On December 2, the inaugural episode will launch on PC, Mac and PlayStation 4 (US). Then, one day later, it is scheduled to appear on Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PS4 (Europe). By December 4, the game will also be available on iOS. One week later, on December 9, the game will be available on PlayStation 3 across the US and Europe. The Android release date has yet to be specified, though it is still on track for December. Telltale Games, famous for its work on The Walking Dead series, revealed the staggered release date schedule on Twitter. #GameOfThrones A @TelltaleGames Series Ep 1 #IronFromIce 12/2 PC/Mac; PS4 SCEA 12/3 Xbox One & 360; PS4 SCEE 12/4 iOS pic.twitter.com/dpIwlib6nl — Telltale Games (@telltalegames) November 27, 2014 .@telltalegames Additional release details for #GameOfThrones Ep 1 12/9 PS3 SCEA & SCEE @Android dates for December forthcoming — Telltale Games (@telltalegames) November 27, 2014 A total of six episodes will comprise the Game of Thrones first season, which is called Iron from Ice. The interactive narrative is centred on House Forrester,…

Black Friday no longer means sales the day after Thanksgiving in the US. Instead, it’s expanded into a week-long series of sales and discounts. But the best holiday deals tend to be focused on the upcoming weekend. Online retailers especially have made the in-store only deals almost obsolete, but we’ve lined up what we feel are some of the best deals to meet your gaming needs. If you’re looking to bulk up your last-gen library you’ll be able to find much better deals than if you want the latest games, but there’s a discount on pretty much everything this holiday. (Note that GameSpot does receive some commission on Amazon affiliate links, however those links are not included in this story. GameSpot does not receive a commission for any other retailer.) Console Deals Wii U: While the $300 32GB bundled with Super Mario 3D World isn’t bad, report indicate that you’ll be able to buy the unit tax free on Friday for just under $270. However, if you’re willing to spend a little more in exchange for a free game, this Best Buy bundle includes the regular pack-ins (Super Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land) as well as Super Smash Bros….

Sold! Well well well! Fancy meeting you here! This is the page where you’ll find all the best Black Friday UK game deals and discounts for all manner of platforms from PC to Wii U, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This page will continually update and incorporate all the best deals found between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Happy bargain hunting. Live in the US? You should direct your eyes to GameSpot’s Black Friday Game Deals page for North America. You’re welcome! Note: All times and dates, on this page only, are default UK. GAME First up: UK retailer GAME will be selling a limited number of Xbox One consoles with four games for £299.99 at selected stores on Black Friday. JUST IN – GAME is selling a PS4, with DriveClub and The Last of Us Remastered, for just £299! Interest in the deal has crashed the site, so we can’t offer all links right now to the following deals: Dishonored, PC, £2.49 Remember Me, PC, £5.75 Shadow or Mordor, PS4 or Xbox One, £24.99 Titanfall, Xbox One, £24.99 Batman: Arkham Origins, Wii U and PC, £9.99 TESCO Here’s a good deal – PlayStation 4 with Driveclub, £290 ShopTo Wii…

If you’ve already discovered Far Cry 4‘s wonderful secret ending, you’ll probably be invested enough in the game to already know that, somewhere, out there, a second secret ending exists. The game’s creative director, Alex Hutchinson, confirmed two weeks ago that GameSpot had discovered the game’s first secret ending, found just moments into the game, which allows players to reach the credits within about fifteen minutes. But he also disclosed on his Twitter feed that the game contains what he describes is a “super secret” alternate ending that “creates a whole new mini-location”. Don’t look if you want to enjoy it for yourself but Gamespot just outed the secret alternate ending if you listen to Pagan at the start… — Alex Hutchinson (@BangBangClick) November 14, 2014 But they didn’t find the super secret alternate ending that requires you to make a snap decision and creates a whole new mini-location… — Alex Hutchinson (@BangBangClick) November 14, 2014 First of all; more games should do this. Secondly, it looks like that second alternative ending has now been discovered, and it exists at the very end of the game. Major spoiler: After confronting Pagan, following the assault on his fortress, you’re given the…

Hardcore Dragon Age fans have gradually come to notice that the latest instalment in the series is not as talkative as expected. Though the previous game in the series was packed with dialogue between the player and their trio of AI-controlled companions, in Dragon Age: Inquisition the talking is more tentative. Due to discussions about the absence of chatter on various Dragon Age and EA forums, developer BioWare has discovered that this is likely due to an unknown glitch in the code. If the bug is found and remedied, companions will be far more conversational. Now Allan Schumacher, a QA analyst at BioWare, is asking fans who have played the game for more than sixty hours to explain to him their experience and share their save files. The more people do this, the more likely it is that Schumacher can locate the source of the problem. The community thread for messaging Schumacher is found on the BioWare website, though discussions have also spilled out to the EA Help Forum and Reddit. Dragon Age: Inquisition shipped on November 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. GameSpot’s review was glowing, with critic Kevin VanOrd writing: “Dragon Age:…

If you’re a GameSpot regular you’ve probably already seen our new comprehensive buyer’s guides for Xbox One and PS4 (promise I’ll stop plugging these!) but there is certainly one detail I missed in both. To wit: Can the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One survive a fifteen-foot drop onto concrete? Now, this absolutely isn’t the kind of test you should try at home. As WWE wrestler Mick Foley once famously demonstrated (“good god almighty!“), fifteen feet is a long, long way down. Tech publication Wired dropped both Sony and Microsoft’s new consoles from waist height, and then from fifteen feet, to see if they can function after the impact. Minor spoiler – only one survives. Watch the video above.

Publisher Ubisoft has released a second patch for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 editions of its open-world FPS, Far Cry 4. The latest update comes days after a similar patch was issued for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 versions, and a little over a week since Far Cry 4 shipped across Europe and the US. Far Cry 4, which was developed for cross-gen platforms and PC, garnered generally favourable reviews from critics. GameSpot’s assessment, however, outlined reservations for the game. GameSpot critic Kevin VanOrd wrote: “It’s when you circumvent Far Cry 4’s major thematic flaws, inconsistent missions, and incessant nagging that you find the game you came looking for, breathing easy and enjoying the mountains that rise in the distance and the valleys that stretch beneath you.” The Xbox One and Xbox 360 patch notes, written by Ubisoft, can be found below. Fixed custom match stability issues Fixed progression page issues in Story missions. Fixed functionality issues in the shop menu Fixed few localization issues (cut-off text, subtitles) Fixed host migration random issues specific to coop Fixed aiming issues with machine gun weapon. Fixed Map Browser issues. Fixed some missing sound in radio calls. Ubisoft added: “We are…

Developer 343 Industries has released a new, 523MB patch for Halo: The Master Chief Collection in a bid to squish the game’s multiplayer bugs. The studio told fans that the latest patch resolves “a number of matchmaking issues, fixes various bugs related to UI and the party system, and also improves overall stability”. However, it explained that more work still needs to be done to eliminate all the matchmaking and multiplayer problems. “While this update contains a variety of improvements, we continue to work on additional content updates that will be rolled out to address further issues that you have called out,” the studio wrote on its blog. Since its launch two weeks ago, on November 11, The Master Chief Collection has been unable to connect players online smoothly or swiftly. Various patches, applied in a bid to improve the experience, have not resolved the issues, and in some instances have made matters worse. Due to the emergence of numerous bugs and problems, Bonnie Ross, the executive in charge at 343 Industries, asked fans to accept her “heartfelt apologies” over the game’s persistent online problems. “We have not delivered the experience you deserve,” Ross said. “I personally apologize for this…

Write for Us

OwnedGamers is always looking for fresh content, if you are looking to have your post published, we can help you. Posts that highlight how you can improve your gaming skills, choosing peripherals, reviews and announcing your indie game are preferred.